Pope Francis asked to pray for him since he is fully aware of the scale of problems and challenges facing the Catholic Church nowadays

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RIO DE JANEIRO, July 29 (Itar-Tass) - Pope Francis’ visit to Brazil that ended on Sunday has demonstrated his commitment to renew the Catholic Church and consolidate its authority in the world.

The first foreign visit by the new Pope of Rome proved that in Jorge Mario Bergoglio the Catholic Church has found an enthusiastic and a charismatic leader who doesn’t find it difficult to communicate with people and who can win over people by his sociability. During his Brazilian visit, the Pope confirmed his reputation as a pontiff who seems indifferent to ostentatious attributes of power and who can ignore conventionalities of the official protocol. All this only adds to his popularity. Thus, the Sunday service he conducted at the Copacabana embankment was attended by more than three million people.

In Brazil, the pontiff asked the believers to pray for him. “Pray for me” were Pope Francis’ last words he pronounced at the Rio de Janeiro airport before taking off for Rome. Observers say, the Pope needs such strong prayer support, since he is fully aware of the scale of problems and challenges facing the Catholic Church nowadays. At a recent meeting with activists of the World Youth Day, an international event, organized by the Catholic Church, he spoke about the courage it takes to go against the flow and be happy.

The next World Youth Day will be organized in Poland’s Krakow in 2016. The choice of the venue is not accidental. This is the city where the previous Pope, John Paul II, who initiated such events, began his church service.